As detect spam and phishing emails to grow, it’s essential for everyone to understand how to detect spam and phishing emails so they can play an active role in keeping themselves and their business safe. While both spam and phishing are types of cyberattacks, there are some distinct differences between them.

Spam is unsolicited and often irrelevant email messages that contain commercial content, bulk marketing, and spam links. While they may be a nuisance and clutter your inbox, they generally don’t pose much of a threat unless you click on their links or download their malicious attachments.

developer fraud detection documentation for APIs

Phishing, on the other hand, is a more sophisticated form of attack that aims to steal sensitive information like passwords, account credentials and Social Security numbers. The attackers behind phishing attacks may also use other tactics, including spear phishing (targeting specific individuals), vishing (attacks using voice), and smishing (attacks that use SMS to target victims).

Detecting phishing attacks can be difficult because they look so similar to legitimate ones. However, there are a few key indicators to watch for. Firstly, check the tone and language of the email. Be wary of any threatening or urgent language, as it could be a red flag. Secondly, check the validity of the email address. Legitimate contacts will only send from an official company email and always use the company’s verified website. Finally, hover your cursor over any links to see where they lead and to ensure that the domain is correct.